New apprentices essential in Essar’s Low Carbon future

A new cohort of engineering and maintenance apprentices have started their Essar apprenticeships.  The nineteen-strong cohort will be developing the skills which will enable them to take up positions in our operations, maintenance and inspection teams at the end of their training. 

The apprentices recently had an Induction Day at Essar where they toured the refinery and got to see where they will be working. The majority of the new apprentices are from schools local to our site including Whitby High School and Neston High School.

The scheme provides the opportunity to learn through mentoring from experienced staff as well as the chance to study for a work-based qualification while earning a salary. The apprenticeships last for 3 ½ years and are open to people aged 16 or over.  The apprentices will continue with onsite visits during their training and will become fully involved part way through their training to conclude their training/apprenticeship on site.

Jon Barden, Chief Operating Officer at Essar Oil UK, said: “We are delighted to have welcomed our latest cohort of apprentices on site.  Our apprenticeship programme at Essar is the ideal way to start their careers. These new talented and enthusiastic apprentices will be our future engineers, perhaps with careers which will surpass the year 2060, and will help lead our country’s low carbon transformation.” 

Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, said: “It was fantastic to meet all the new apprentices at Essar recently.  These new apprentices are all local youngsters who have been given a great opportunity to learn much needed engineering skills. Just the sort of quality jobs we need.”

The previous cohort at Essar (qualified in 2022) and were offered permanent opportunities within the organisation.